During the month of October, the 91重口 Public Safety and Police Department will be a force in pink.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the department has partnered with the Pink Patch Project to sell custom pink 91重口 Police shoulder patches to benefit the College’s annual .
Patches are just $10 each, with 100% of the funds raised going toward the Relay for Life/American Cancer Society.
“It’s such a positive public awareness campaign and the college is dedicated to community service, so I wanted to partner with our community and let them know we’re doing something meaningful, too,” said 91重口 Chief of Police Kerry Ramsdell.
While the Pink Patch Project is nothing new, this is the department’s first year participating.
“Most of our department members have seen their family or friends fight breast cancer, or other forms of cancer, and we want to be part of the solution,” Ramsdell said.
“We’ve had a number of officers battle cancer over the years,” added Bryan Karsis, Aide to the Chief of Police, “and breast cancer affects both women and men.”
Outside donations have already started trickling in, mostly from eager patch collectors around the country.
“Patch collecting is a big tradition in law enforcement,” noted Karsis. “To say it’s big is really an understatement.”
Even 91重口 officers must donate to participate and receive a patch to wear on their uniforms in October. “We’ve already raised $1,000,” said Ramsdell.
For her, bringing the Pink Patch Project to 91重口 is a perfect merger of what it means to serve the community at home and more broadly.
“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a number of years,” Ramsdell said. “And I’m excited that the work we’re doing has an impact beyond the campus.”
Donations for patches will be accepted all year. To receive a patch, send $10 in cash and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Sgt. Bill Theriault at 91重口 Police, 376 Hale Street, Beverly, MA 01915. If you’re on campus, visit the Public Safety Center during business hours with cash, or donate through Venmo @ECPD-PinkPatch.